Life is a balancing act. We experience the fluctuations of energy that make up the various cycles, and sometimes feel thrown around by their extremes. But it's through Yoga that we are able to reach a better balance. Yoga means union - between positive and negative in whatever way they are manifesting.

If we are female we are under the influence of our hormonal cycle for about 40 years, and many find this difficult. So one popular workshop I run for this topic is mainly about women's health and how we can use our Yoga practices to gain a better balance of hormones and a more enjoyable time during our menstrual cycle, and beyond will menopause.

Discover how the cyclic expressions of your energy affect your Yoga practices and how your Yoga practices can affect your cycles!

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Using Yoga to get the best from being a Woman
(alternative title: Yoga for Women and the men who care for them)

A workshop for women of all ages exploring:

• the menstrual cycle and how to make it work for you
• menstrual difficulties and easing them through yoga:
  • PMS
  • menstrual pain
  • mood and energy fluctuations
• menopause and beyond
• preventing osteoporosis through yogic lifestyle

I've had a personal history of PMS and endometriosis which have both been eased by Yoga practice. I have also spent many years advising women on their health both as a Yoga teacher and as a Naturopath. This is a fun day to help you enjoy your woman-ness even more.

Accompanying the workshop is the booklet on Nature's Cycles which gives information on many other aspects of nature and how they affect us. The asanas and pranayama are recorded on CD (see Practices for Stress and Hormonal Balance) so that you can do them at home once learnt in the workshop.

Yoga teachers can study this topic as an In-Service training day. Male teachers are welcome. Come and learn more about what makes us women tick and how you can advise students who are having difficulties.

"Thank you once again for a totally refreshing and exciting day ... understanding the natural cycles has already changed my outlook. The practice, understanding and empathy you showed to me was gratefully received ... I hope to be fortunate enough to attend one of your workshops in the future."
Rachel, Nottingham

"...everyone enjoyed your "Women's Health" day. I had several calls after the event to say how much they had benefited from the day and how they would apply some of their new knowledge in their classes and personally. I found I gleaned so much more second time around..."
Penny Roberts, Surrey BWY County Rep

"A nourishing, refreshing experience... (I) feel more vital and encouraged on my own path."
Rocklyn Ashram visitor, Australia

"No number of thankyous could express the gratitude I feel for your visit. The information, practices and peaceful energy you shared has inspired us all and will continue to do so."
Olga Chwa, Warsaw, Poland

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This booklet expands on the topic of natural cycles of life and the interplay of the female cycle and lunar cycle in particular.

There are charts for you to use to map out your cycles (even after menopause) and see how they affect your body, thoughts, dreams, energy and inclinations. I found these particularly useful as I went into menopause - my cycle was very irregular and having a colour chart to refer to gave me a new perspective on where I was and what to expect.

This booklet also gives details of how Yoga practices can be used to manage the different female problems such as PMS, endometriosis, heavy or painful periods, osteoporosis, etc.

Extracts from the Book

"Everything in life pulses; waxes and wanes. From the highest to the lowest frequency, everything is in motion. ... there are rhythms, cycles of which we are aware. From the colours of light through the sound spectrum to the feeling of the heartbeat and breath. Nature itself is in constant flux.

In each cycle there is a movement from full to empty, from start to stop, from positive to negative, from action to rest. We can learn to tune into these cycles and work with them rather than against them."

"As we work with our yoga practices we affect all levels of our being. The physical body moves more easily. Our prana becomes free flowing. Our minds become clearer and more focused. As we progress our chakras become opened and we find ourselves resolving issues like

• fear or security
• pain or joy
• submission or power
• self or others

And the lovely thing is that as ajna chakra awakens (the eyebrow centre or third eye) the effects of the extremes of the swings of these cycles diminishes. We gain the detachment needed to withstand the fluctuations. Compassion, love, communication and empathy become natural to us. We feel inspired and empowered by our lives."

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This CD contains guidance for the asana and pranayama practices similar to those we did in the workshop. They are designed to bring awareness and prana to each of the endocrine glands and associated chakras. This in turn influences the functioning of the whole endocrine system and supports it especially when we are stressed. Don't forget that where stress is involved it is important also to do practices like Yoga Nidra to bring about the relaxation response and recharge you with energy.

(See related topics Creating Change and Health Management through Yoga)

N.B. THIS CD IS SUITABLE FOR EXPERIENCED STUDENTS ONLY.
If you are on hormonal medication or under medical supervision please consult your yoga teacher before starting this program.

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TRACK 1
YOGA NIDRA

Deep relaxation with visualization of the journey of a droplet of water. Experienced a judgements of reactions to: heaviness and lightness, heat and cold, opened and closed spaces, dizziness and purity, activity and stillness, beauty and ugliness, natural and man-made environments, freedom and constraint.
(34 mins)

TRACK 2
ANTAR MOUNA - Stage 3

the mind is baited with environmental topics and associated thoughts, feelings and beliefs are observed. Then we throw the thought away, building up willpower to finish a thought. The meditation uses imagery to promote awareness of what we do and can do for our environment.
(27 mins)

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